"Scarlet" as a name has always invoked an air of passion and sensuality. Usually a female-oriented trope, the name "Scarlet" (sometimes with two T's) often denotes a woman with a fiery, indomitable personality and complicated morality. If she's a hero, she'll be on the aggressive side. If she's a villain, she's almost never straightforwardly evil. As one can expect, she is often a LadyInRed and/or a FieryRedhead, especially if "Scarlet" is actually a nickname or codename.

It's very likely for the woman to be a SouthernBelle and be some kind of {{homage}} to Scarlett O'Hara of ''Film/GoneWithTheWind''.

While male examples exist (Series/{{Captain Scarlet|AndTheMysterons}} and Literature/TheScarletPimpernel come to mind -- also, Franchise/TheFlash is often nicknamed "The Scarlet Speedster"), they usually have a much different feel, playing up the boldness of the color red rather than any direct sexualization.

See also HeroesWantRedheads. This trope has nothing whatsoever to do with the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_fever deadly contagion.]]----!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* Scarlett from the film ''Anime/{{Steamboy}}''.* Erza Scarlet from ''Manga/FairyTail''. [[spoiler: Her last name was chosen for her by Jellal because of her red hair.]] * ''Manga/{{Freezing}}''[='s=] Dr. Scarlet Ohara, who's willing to do anything to save the world including [[spoiler: knowingly (if extremely reluctantly) setting up her teenage human test subjects to die to ensure funding for her ''real'' project]].* Scarlet aka Angel Salvia from ''Manga/WeddingPeach''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* Obviously, Scarlett O'Hara from ''GoneWithTheWind''. And despite what many assume, she was actually a brunette in the book and film.* Miss Scarlet from Perry Moore's ''Literature/{{Hero}}'', a superheroine with [[PlayingWithFire fire powers]] to match her temper. * While not the name of a person, ''TheScarletLetter'' invoked this trope in its title as far back as 1850.[[/folder]]

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]* The Glasgow-based TV soap ''River City'' has a character called Scarlett Mullen who ticks all the boxes. However as her maiden name actually was O'Hara she was, in universe, clearly named after the GWTW heroine.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* ''Scarlet's Walk'' is an album by Music/ToriAmos where the character, Scarlet, travels the U.S. post 9/11.[[/folder]]

[[folder:TabletopGames]] * The sultry [[ColourfulThemeNaming Miss Scarlett]] from ''TabletopGame/{{Clue}}''. * The Scarlet Empress, one of the primary villains in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]* Scarlett, the most well-known female hero from ''Franchise/GIJoe''. Her backstory is an homage to ''Gone with the Wind'', as her birth name is Shanna O'Hara and she's from {{Atlanta}}.[[/folder]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]* The vampires Remilia and Flandre Scarlet from the sixth ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' game, ''Embodiment of Scarlet Devil''. Best displayed by the former, who has many attacks that involve the manipulation of a scarlet BattleAura, including wreathing herself in a [[PillarOfLight giant]] [[CreepyCoolCrosses cross-shaped one.]]* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'''s Scarlet, who is a mid-level villainess, a CorruptCorporateExecutive and a LadyInRed.[[/folder]]

[[folder:RealLife]]* Real Life example: Famed [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold sex worker advocate]] Carol Leigh, aka "Scarlot Harlot"* Team colors of Boston University, which is [[ItWasHisSled why]] the {{mascot}} is a Boston terrier named [[Film/GoneWithTheWind Rhett]].* Creator/ScarlettJohansson, who's not a redhead but has [[ComicBook/BlackWidow played one]].[[/folder]]----